Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

Research Compendium 1993 - 1994

Research Project

LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGE IN AUSTRALIA

Objective

To allow an exchange of information on the changes in land use and land cover in the face of global change.

Background

The Academy of Science, The Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and the Institute of Agricultural Science joined to hold this Symposium as an initiative of the Science Academy's National Committee for the International Geosphere Biosphere Program.

Research

RIRDC assisted four key speakers to attend the symposium.

Outcome

Many of the papers presented provided an overview of land use change, the relevance on global climate change models and the ways we can plan for future change. The land related problems the symposium was concerned with include soil degradation (salinity, acid soil, compaction, nutrient depletion, organic matter levels), soil loss (erosion), loss of prime agricultural land, soil organic carbon levels, biodiversity, anticipation of the impacts of climate change, socio-economic pressures and implications for economic growth.

Implications

The symposium facilitated review of the body of work which now exists which details opinions and possible solutions to land related problems from the perspective of both natural scientists and social scientists. This is a valuable resource for those continuing to investigate this area of science, and may lead to further investigation, as a result of questions raised.

RIRDC Project No: AAC-1A

RESEARCHER: Peter Vallee

ORGANISATION: Australian Academy of Science

PHONE: 06 257 4620

PUBLICATIONS:

The proceedings of the symposium are available in a special issue of 'Land Degradation and Rehabilitation' published by W.J. Wiley. Volume 5, No.2, available from the Australian Academy of Science.

Last updated: 10 October 1996
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http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/compendium/93-94/index-b.html